This is the **complete guide to Bangla / Bengali keyboards** — what the layouts are, how they differ, which to pick, and where to install each one across Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS. It's the page I wish existed when I first started typing Bengali on a non-Windows machine.

If you already know what you want, jump to:

- [Install UniBijoy in Avro Keyboard (Windows, free)](/blog/unibijoy-keyboard-layout-in-avro-keyboard/)
- [Install Bangla keyboard on Ubuntu / Linux](/blog/install-bengali-unibijoy-keyboard-ubuntu-24-04/)

The rest of this page is the comparison and decision tree.

## The five Bangla keyboard layouts you'll meet

There are five layouts that get mentioned interchangeably online — they are not the same thing.

| Layout              | Type        | Output       | Free?  | Where it lives                                |
| ------------------- | ----------- | ------------ | ------ | --------------------------------------------- |
| **Bijoy** (1988)    | Fixed       | ANSI         | Paid   | Bijoy Bayanno (Windows)                       |
| **Bijoy Bayanno / Bijoy 52** | Fixed | ANSI + Unicode | Paid | Windows                                       |
| **UniBijoy**        | Fixed       | Unicode      | Free   | Avro (Windows/Linux/macOS), IBus (Linux)      |
| **Avro Phonetic**   | Phonetic    | Unicode      | Free   | Avro Keyboard (Windows/Linux/macOS)           |
| **Provat**          | Fixed       | Unicode      | Free   | Avro Keyboard's own fixed layout              |

Two practical distinctions:

- **Fixed vs phonetic.** Fixed layouts (Bijoy, UniBijoy, Provat) map each English key to a specific Bengali letter — same idea as QWERTY for English. Phonetic layouts (Avro Phonetic) convert romanised words ("bangla" → "বাংলা") on the fly.
- **ANSI vs Unicode.** ANSI Bengali (Bijoy) needs a matching Bijoy font to display correctly. Unicode Bengali (UniBijoy, Provat) renders everywhere modern — web, Office, phones — without special fonts.

If you're picking fresh today and don't have legacy ANSI documents, **always pick a Unicode layout**. It's portable.

## Which Bangla keyboard should you pick?

A short decision tree:

```
Do you already type Bijoy at school/work?
├── Yes ──> Stay on the Bijoy key map
│   ├── Want it free?     ──> UniBijoy via Avro
│   └── Need paid Bijoy?  ──> Bijoy Bayanno (Bijoy 52)
└── No, you're new to Bengali typing
    ├── Just want it to work, occasionally?
    │   └── Avro Phonetic (type "bangla" → "বাংলা")
    └── Want to invest in a fixed layout for speed?
        └── UniBijoy (free) or Provat (Avro's own)
```

For 80% of readers, **UniBijoy via Avro Keyboard** is the right answer. It's free, Unicode, cross-platform, and the same key map you'd learn for Bijoy — so if you ever need to switch to Bijoy Bayanno later, your fingers are ready.

## The Bangla key map

This is the **Bijoy / UniBijoy / Provat fixed layout** — every Bengali consonant, vowel, and modifier mapped to a QWERTY key:

{{< figure src="/assets/blog/Bijoy-Bangla-Keyboard-Layout-1024x540.jpg" alt="Bangla keyboard layout chart — Bijoy / UniBijoy Bengali key map" caption="Bangla keyboard chart — Bijoy / UniBijoy / Provat fixed layout. Save as wallpaper while learning." >}}

Highlights:

- **Vowels** on the right half, **consonants** on the left.
- **`G`** → Bengali full stop `।` (dari).
- Numerals **`0–9`** automatically convert to Bengali numerals **`০–৯`** when the layout is active.
- **Shift + key** → aspirated / conjunct forms.

## Install guides by platform

### Windows

- **Free + Unicode** → [Install UniBijoy in Avro Keyboard](/blog/unibijoy-keyboard-layout-in-avro-keyboard/) (download a `.avrolayout`, double-click, restart Avro).
- **Paid + ANSI/Unicode** → Bijoy Bayanno (Bijoy 52) on Windows 11 — the paid option; the .NET Framework 3.5 prerequisite is the only gotcha.

### Linux

- **Free + Unicode** → [Install Bangla keyboard on Ubuntu](/blog/install-bengali-unibijoy-keyboard-ubuntu-24-04/). IBus + m17n-db ships the Bijoy layout under the name "Bengali (Unijoy)". Works on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Mint, Pop!_OS.

### macOS

- **Free + Unicode** → On macOS, iAvro from OmicronLab ships UniBijoy + Avro Phonetic — add it from System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources.

### Android

Gboard ships a **Bangla (Bijoy)** layout. **Settings → System → Languages & input → Languages → Add language → Bangla**, then in any text field, long-press the spacebar to switch.

For phonetic Bangla on Android, install **Ridmik Keyboard** from the Play Store — it's the most popular phonetic Bangla keyboard for mobile.

### iOS

iOS only ships **phonetic** Bengali natively. **Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Bengali**.

For a fixed Bijoy layout, install **Ridmik Keyboard** or **Avro Keyboard for iOS** from the App Store.

## Layout-specific deep dives

These posts go further on a single layout or platform:

- [UniBijoy keyboard layout for Avro Keyboard (Windows)](/blog/unibijoy-keyboard-layout-in-avro-keyboard/) — free download + step-by-step install.
- [Bangla keyboard on Ubuntu / Linux](/blog/install-bengali-unibijoy-keyboard-ubuntu-24-04/) — IBus + m17n setup.

## FAQ

**What's the difference between Bijoy and UniBijoy?**
Same physical key positions; different output. Bijoy outputs ANSI legacy Bengali; UniBijoy outputs Unicode. UniBijoy is what you want for any modern app.

**Is Bijoy Bayanno free?**
No — it's paid (BDT ~1,500). [Avro + UniBijoy](/blog/unibijoy-keyboard-layout-in-avro-keyboard/) is the free alternative with the same layout.

**Can I learn Bijoy without paying for Bijoy Bayanno?**
Yes — install [Avro Keyboard](https://www.omicronlab.com/avro-keyboard-download.html) and add the [UniBijoy layout](/blog/unibijoy-keyboard-layout-in-avro-keyboard/). Identical key positions to Bijoy, free.

**Which is faster, Bijoy or Avro Phonetic?**
Bijoy after you've built the muscle memory — same reason QWERTY beats hunt-and-peck. Avro Phonetic is faster for occasional typists who don't want to learn a layout.

## Related

- [BTRC IMEI check — verify your phone in Bangladesh](/blog/check-imei-from-btrc-verify-your-mobile-phone/) — separate topic but useful if you also bought a phone in Bangladesh recently.

Stuck on a specific platform or layout? Drop a comment below.